Rotary fluid-engine.



PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

J. F. GQ'OLEY. ROTARY FLUID ENGINE. APPLIOATION IILBDiAN. 12, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. I

110 MODEL.

No. 725,615. PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

' J. F. GOOLEY.

ROTARY FLUID ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1903.

I s SHEETS-SHEET 2 0/], III

I Z/ Z M 1 w a E :1? a v a: r 2%? 2% v 1 7 g PATENTED APR. 14, 1903.

J. F. COOLEY ROTARY FLUID ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

' NO MODEL.

UNITED STATE PATENT OF icE;

JOHN FRANCIS COOLEY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO' COOLEY EPICYCLOIDAL ENGINE DEVELOP- MENT COMPANY,OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, AND BOSTON, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY, AND COOLEY EPICY- CLOIDAL ENGINE COMPANY, A CORPORATIONOF NEW JERSEY.

- ROTARY FLUID-ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 725,61 dated p l 1903-Application'filed January 12, 1.903. Serial No; 138,632. (No model.)

This my invention in its broad scope relates to the solution of theproblem of the construc- IO tion of rotaryfiuid-engines for propellingor being propelled by fluidsin other. words, a'

rotary fluid-engine which may be operated by external devices to producepressure in a fluid medium and, conversely, which operate :5 inconsequence of pressure in a fluid medium to give motion to externaldevices.

I found that when a point was revolving around and at-a set distancefrom an axis at a given rate of motion upon a plane which revolved inlike direction around an axis slightly offset from the axis'ofrevolution of the point and with a comparative rate of revolution of.the plane to the point, as two to one,

three to two, four to three, 850., then the point delineated andcircumscribed upon the plane,

epicycloidal, or hypocycloidal forms, which might also be produced bythe circle and point-bearing disk of cyclometry'. I notice that themovement of two to one produced the well-known cardioid, the three totwo a nephroid, &c., and I also found that the cardioid has two suchpoints revolving around the same axis, which would describe the sameepicycloidal curvilinear form at the same time, and that the describedbicuspid form (or nephroid) had three such points, the tri-- cuspid hadfour, 850., and that if another circumscribed epicycloidal form wasdescribed whose cusps corresponded to these points upon these forms thenthe opposing lines or their axial and longitudinal extensions formingsurfaces (which would be a condition of practice) would form partitionedspaces between their opposing surfaces which presented conditions whichif inclosing a fluid under pressure on either side of a straight-linedrawn through the two axes (supposing the ends to be properly closed bysuitable end plates preferably identified with one of the moving partsand in close moving contact with the other) then the fluid-pressurewould cause a rotary movement of the first epicycloidal form, and thecorresponding relative movement of the first epicycloidal form and thecorresponding relative movement of the second epicycloidal form wouldfollow, and if would follow and a pressure be exerted upon the fluidcontained between the two forms, and between the partitions and the rateof the relative progression of the second form would bein the same'ratioas the aforesaid generating-point would hear to the plane in producingthefirst form, which would be the epicycloidal form of thecardioid,bicuspid, tricuspid,&c. ,of this engine,and upon thisI basemyinvention. In practice it substantially consists of the combinedcorrelative construction and function of two preferably cylindroidpartsa piston-cam and a spacer-abutment-of equal length one within theother, suitably bounded byparallel planes, each part rotating in thesame direction, one in moving contact with the other at points havingcommon radial and mutually-equal cyclic distances moving at a relativelyconstant rate of speed differing by unity, each upon anaxis which isindependent of the other and at a slight predetermined distance orofiset therefrom, but parallel therewith and of u nchanginglocation,secured by suitably-attached axles or bearing-surfaces in fixedbearings, wherein the lateral opposing surfaces of one of the parts (thepiston) -is described by the said points of the other, producingcircumscribed, epicycloidal or hypocycloidal forms or modificationsthere of, one piece (the spacer) possessing,numerically, one morebearing-point than the'number of piston rises and a means-for fluidentrance and exit to and from the spaces so formed. The part with thebearing-points would perform the function of partitioning and spacingdevice, determining bythe distance between its points which bear andmove upon the first form was caused to move the second V the piston.

the opposing lateral surfaces of the other,

part the peripheral extent over which andby its relative movement thedirection from which mutual surface abutment exists with reference toany therein inclosed'flmd.

This piece herein is called a spacer, be-.

performing their functions in contactwith cylinders whose centers areconcentric with,

the axis of rotation of the'partitions; but the ing the interiormechanism of the engine andlateral surfaces of the pistonupon which thecusps or partitions contiguously move must be of epicycloidal orhypocycloidal generation, and wit or from it power should betransmitted, preferably, through one or two suitably axial extensions.It is also preferable to close the ends of the moving parts byidentifying suitable disks with and at each end of one of the movingparts, so thatthey may revolve therewith in close moving contact withthe other moving part, and when the disks are so identified with one ofthe parts, especially when that part is the spacer,

it is preferable to provide bearing-surfaces on the disk for the supportof the spacer, making and providing a centralopening in the disk largeenough to allow the movement of the shaft therein.

My invention consists of certain novel features hereinafter described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingd rawings, which illustrate a construction embodying,my invention, Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view through the engine onthe line 1 1, Fig. 3, and showthe steam-channels and valves controllingthe entrance and exit'of fluid. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the valvesreversed for the operation of the engine in the reverse direction. Fig.3is a longitudinal central sectional view through the engine. Fig. 4: isa perspective view of the spacer-packing-hereinafter described. Fig.5 isa detail view of one of the packing-strips for the spacer. Fig. 6 is across-sectional view on the line 6 6,'Fig. 3, looking inthe direction ofthe arrow. Fig. 7 isadetail view of thewearing-ring with radial wearingprojections for the end disks; Fig. 8 is an end view of one of thespacer-disks and gearing .with one of the cylinder-heads removed.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout theseveralviews. c

When this engine is operated as a motor by fluid under pressure, motivefluid for operating the engine enters through the opening A and passesthrough the valve A con trolled by the handle A into'the passage A,

formed by the shell A and cylinder 0, and from said'passage motive fluidpasses through the valved controlled by the handle B through the port 13in the cylinder Ointo'the space 0'. then through the openingD in thespacer. D into the space D fTh'e motive fluid is now underpressure inthe spaces D and O and mutually repels the surfaces of the cylinder 0between the projections E and E. on the spacer D; on oneside and the'piston, H between theequidistant wearing rocking shoes F and Fintheother direction, the

resultant of which pressure passes below the axis of revolution G of thepistonH and-propels the piston in thedirection indicated by the arrowat. The axis G of revolution of the piston H is parallel, but'eccentric,to the axis of the bore of the cylinder C which coincides with the axisDof revolution of the spacer D. The equidistant wearing rocking shoesF FF located in the spacer D, form bea'ring points and are in contact withthe piston in all forms and-positions'of the moving parts of thisinvention, and the spaces between the-strips form separate equalcylinders. I At the same time that the movement of the piston takesplace'in Fig. 1 the spacer also revolves at a rate which, reckoned incomplete revolutionsof-the spacer and piston,

.may be expressed in integral-n u mbers, as two to three, and the fluidunder pressure operating within the space'D continues to so propel thepiston until its movement, together with the-correlative movement of thespacer D, brings their line of mutual repulsion to correspond to a linethrough thecenters D and G5 of'the spacer D. and piston H. In themeantime, by the correlative movement of the parts, the external spacerprojection E has passed the port 0 allowing the fluid to enter the spaceD ,"then through the opening D into the space D causing the mutualrepulsion of the,surfaces,-wh ich in that position of the. parts alsocauses] a rotary tendency of the piston,'due to the deflection of theline of mutualrepulsion from a line corresponding with the centers of.thep'istou and -spacer,d ue to their relative change ofposition,

and so on in order,th us keeping up the motion of the engine. When thespacer projection E has reached a point in itsrevolution at which itpasses theport K, then the fluid under pressure in the spaces 'D and'O.exhausts throughthe port K,-throngh thevalve K controlled by the handleK into the chamber K and out through the exhaust-opening K5. L is anadditional port .to allow free relief ofany remaining fluid contained inthe spaces after having exhausted the fluid-pressure through the port K.In the revolution of the engine when the spa'cerprojectionL has passedthe port (3 in continued revolution the motive fluid will enter thespace L through the port 0 and opening J into the Y space L andtheoperation continues aspreof the engine.

the reverse direction from that described in Fig. 1, the valves A 13,and K are turned, by means of their respective handles A B and K to thedirection indicated in Fig. 2, when the engine will operate reversely,as indicated by arrow 1), to that described for Fig. 1 upon theadmission of steam or other motive fluid, and the valves A and K act asin let-valves and the valve B as the exhaust.

tive-fluid entrance as regards the spaces 0'.

and D in Fig. land L and L in Fig. 2, and

the motive force of the expansion of the contained fluids'will propelthe engine until the said spaces D and L are exhausted throughtheexhaust-ports in each case. This condition of cut-off and expansionoccurs in consecutive order, as the spacer projectionsconsecutivelyclose the said ports 0 and L from the fluid-passage A" in Fig. 1 and thefluidpassage K in Fig. 2.

The pinion M on the shaft G of the piston Hand the internal gears M,cutin the openings M in the disks M secured to the spacer D, intermesh andoperate at the same correlative speed ratio as the piston and spacer Thewearin g-rin gs N are provided with radial projections N (shown in Figs.6 and 7) and located in the two opposite end disks M as shown in Fig. 3.On the outer ends of the engine are located the cylinder-heads Q,secured by bolts Qand through which projects the shaft G of the pistonH, and these cylinder-heads have also inwardly-projecting hubs Q whichform a bearing for the hubs M on the end disks M of the spacer D andalsofor the shaft G, mounted eccentrically to the axis of the bore of thecylinder and to the axis of rotation of the spacer. The disks 1 3 aresecured to the spacer D by suitable bolts M which pass through theopenings/M in said disks M As shown in Fig. 4., the rings 0, havingchannels P, are located in each end of the spacer, as shown in Fig. 3,between the lugs D and end disks M and are made to run closelycontiguous to the cylinder 0 and closely to the lateral limitations(lugs D and disks M in the ends of the spacer, being free of contactwith the spacer except at such lateral limitations,maintainingpractically fluidtight conditions as regards leakage at the ends of thespacer. The parallel strips P are located, as shown in Fig. 1, in theextremities E, E, and L of the spacer, being free to move radiallywithin their limitations and closely contiguous to the sides of theirchannels in the spacer, butiu contact with the cylinder 0, andmaintained in a constant condition of such contact by the springs Plocated in the recesses P, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, maintaining apractically fluid-tight condition as regards leakage around the outsideof the.

late freely to the other side of the ring and The rings 0 balance thepressure thereon.

steel, or any and strips P may be of cast-iron, other desirablematerial.

The object of the Bis a suitable pulley fixed fast on the shaft G.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is V 1. In a rotaryfluid-engine, a cylinder havin g an internal bore,a rotary cam-pistontherein whose axis is parallel to the axis of said bore and mounted on ashaft eccentric to said bore, cylinder-heads provided with eccentricbearing for said piston-shaft, a like directionally-rotating spacerbetween said piston and said bore in continuous contact'atradiallycoincident and equiangularly-spaced intervals with both boreandrpistou, both piston and spacer rotating in the same direction atrelatively constant but different rates of speed, concentric bearingsfor the. spacer, disks provided with bearing-surfaces for supportingsaid spacer, entrance and exit ports for the fluids in said cylinder,and intermesh ing gearings on said piston-shaft and spacer.

2. In a rotary fluid-engine, a cylinder having an internal bore,a rotarycam-piston therein whose axis is parallel to the axis of said bore andmounted on a shaft eccentric to said bore, cylinder-heads provided witheccentric bearings for said piston-shaft, alike direction- I'IOally-rotating spacer between said piston and said bore in continuouscontact at radiallycoincident and. equiangularly-spacedintervals withboth bore and piston, both piston and spacer rotating in the samedirection at relatively constant but difierent rates of speed,concentric bearings for said spacer, disks provided withbearing-surfaces for supporting said spacer upon said concentricbearings, entrance and exit ports in the cylinder controlled by saidspacer for admitting and exhausting fluids to and from the piston beforfluids, and intermeshing gearing on said piston-shaft and spacer.

4. In a rotary fiuid-engine, a cylinder having an internal bore,a rotarycam-piston therein Whose axis is parallel to the axis of said bore, alike directionally-rotating spacer between said piston and said bore incontinuous contact at radially-coincident and equiangularly-spacedintervals with both bore and piston, entrance and exit ports for fluids,and reversible valves for controlling the admission and exhaust offluids to and from the engine.

5. In a rotary fluid-engine, a packing-ring provided on its outerperiphery with fluidcirculation channels for equalizing the pressure onsaid ring.

6. Ina rotary fluid-engine, a cylinder having an internal loo're,arotarycam-piston therein Whose axis is fparallel to the axis of said bore, alike directionally-rotating spacer between said piston and said bore incontinuous contact at radially-coincident and equiangularly-s pacedintervals with both bore and piston, entrance and exit. ports forfluids, and packing-rings around said spacer at opposite ends andprovided with fluid-circulation channels on their outer peripheries forthe purpose of equalizing the pressure on said ring.

7. In a rotaryfluid-engine, a cylinder having an internal bore,a rotarycam-piston therein whose axis is parallel to the axis of said bore, alike directionally-rotating spacer between said piston and said bore incontinuous contact at radially-coincident and equiangularly-spacedintervals with both bore and piston, entrance and exit ports for fluids,packing-rings around said spacer at opposite ends and provided withfluid-circulation channels on their outer peripheries for the purpose ofequalizing the pressure on said ring, and parallel strips located in theouter periphery of said spacer and in contact at their outer ends withthe inner periphery of said rings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, this 7th day of January, A. D.1903.

JOHN FRANCIS COOLEY.

